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Warm Air versus Cold Air

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Learners discover that warm air takes up more space than cold air.  In this science lesson, students perform 4 experiments using balloons to determine that the molecules of warm air are more spread out than those of cold air.
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Problems and Solutions in Aircraft Design

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students watch demonstrations of paper folded designs that do and do not fly and discuss their observations. They identify problems that they, the Wright Brothers, or NASA scientists face when designing an aircraft, and identify...
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Wilderness Survival: A Field Practicum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use hands-on field-testing of authentic application from principles pertaining to: Psychology- A. Develop a positive, can-do attitude with a high degree of self-reliance that is transferable to human interactions outside...
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Do the Twist...(Learning about Screws)

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate how screws are a twisted incline plane. They observe the teacher screw a screw into wood and participate in a class discussion. Next, they make and test a prediction about how the spacing of the threads on a screw...
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See the Stars

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the nighttime sky. In this space science lesson, students read the book Maria's Comet and and investigate the sky using their naked eyes. Students compare the view of their naked eyes to the view of a telescope.
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Oil Spill

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore an important role of environmental engineers by studying the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They experiment with different strategies in order to clean up their own manufactured oil spill.
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Air Pressure

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students perform experiments that demonstrate the characteristics of air pressure. In this physics lesson, students participate and observe experiments using simple household items. The results of these experiments are used to help the...
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Create a Cloud In a Jar

For Teachers K - 6th
Students investigate cloud formation. In this weather lesson, students examine how clouds are formed. Students participate in experiments that model how water vapor in the air works.
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Our Sky Clock

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore space science by completing a worksheet in class. In this astronomy instructional activity, students discuss and identify star patterns in the night sky and relate these patterns to the approximate time they appear....
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Moon: NC Summer Tour Lesson 2007

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate craters and marea. In this crater and marea lesson, students conduct an experiment to create craters. Students participate in a dance activity.
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Hot Air

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct an experiment to determine how hot air affect the path of laser. In this physics lesson plan, students explain why stars appear to twinkle at night. They discuss how light travels from space to Earth.
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Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 7th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Microorganism Multiplication

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders conduct experiments with yeast to study characteristics of microorganisms. They, working is small groups, change the variables in the experiments and note the results which they later discuss as a class.
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Wilderness Survival: A Field Practicum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are provided with hands-on-field testing of authentic applications from principles pertaining to: Psychology A. Develop a positive, can-do attitude with a high degree of self-reliance that is transferable to human interactions...
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Objects Race 500

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the concept of "shape affects speed" through a series of experiments. In this physics lesson, students participate in an experiment in which various objects are released on an inclined plane. Speed and distance are...
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The Lost Newton's Laws Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore momentum. In this physics lesson, students perform an experiment in which two balls are released on slanted boards while students observe which ball will go the farthest and the fastest. Students define and explain...
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Moldy Food

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students investigate how mold grows on food. In this mold instructional activity, students review the food pyramid before growing mold on different foods in Zip-Loc bags. They create graphs that show how long it takes for mold to grow on...
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Oobleck

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore "matter." In this literacy and three states of matter lesson, students listen to Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, then work in groups to explore "oobleck" (cornstarch and water mixture) with their five senses....
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Searching for life

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars explore the possibility of life on Mars and what that might look like.  In this planetary lesson students complete several activities on looking for life on Mars. 
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Newton Gets Me Moving

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss Newton's laws of motion. The conduct motion experiments by building "Newton Rocket Cars" from assorted materials. They propel the cars with rubber bands and wooden blocks and record the distance traveled on data sheets.
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Floodplain Modeling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars simulate the impact of fluctuating river volumes on structures and landforms. They experiment with table top-sized riverbed models and water. Students consider how human design can help mitigate the effects of a flood.
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Air Pressure

For Teachers K - 8th
Students examine air pressure. In this air pressure lesson, students perform a series of experiments to evaluate the effects of air pressure.
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Dark Skies: Volcanic Contribution to Climate Change

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine how volcanic eruptions affect global climate. They listen to first-hand accounts of the effects of a large volcanic eruption and illustrate a landscape to show understanding. They experiment with the loss of light and...
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Sound

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students identify sources and importance of sound, discuss sounds heard on way to school, explain why sound waves can be "seen", and participate in various classroom activities and experiments that illustrate how sound travels.